We're asking every Seattle City Councilmember & candidate to add their name to the passenger/driver Bill of Rights and show they support innovative approaches to close this $51 billion loophole in the basic rights of passengers and drivers.

Hundreds of people have already added their names to the passenger/driver Bill of Rights, which spells out basic principles that everyone in the Uber economy should be able to expect — like safe transportation, living wages, open communication, privacy, nondiscrimination, and a voice in the rules.

But too many of these rights aren't yet reflected in the law. That's because Uber & Lyft take advantage of a loophole to classify their drivers as “independent contractors” rather than employees — even though the app companies have total control over access to customers, they get to set the minimum payment for a ride, the pay per mile and per minute, and they set the price of insurance. (And even though the companies can change the pay whenever they want.)

By working this loophole, these companies avoid the responsibilities that other employers have to their employees — including fundamental rights like minimum wage and the right to organize. Meanwhile, Uber alone was recently valued at $51 billion.

Uber & Lyft offer extraordinary convenience — but corporate loopholes aren't an innovation. Passengers have a right to know that their fare dollars are going to support good jobs and living wages for drivers, not just multi-billion-dollar valuations for investors in the app-based economy.

About Working Washington: Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work. More info…

Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work.

Working Washington fast food strikers sparked the fight that won Seattle's landmark $15 minimum wage. We drove Amazon to sever ties with right-wing lobby group ALEC and improve conditions in their sweatshop warehouses. And we helped lead the winning campaign in SeaTac for a $15 living wage.